THE RESULTS OF ARTHROSCOPIC DEBRIDEMENT OF GLENOID LABRAL TEARS BASEDON TEAR LOCATION

A retrospective, average 2-year review of 14 patients with a primary g lenoid labral tear treated by arthroscopic debridement was conducted t o evaluate the long-term results of labral debridement based on tear l ocation in preoperatively stable shoulders. All patients with concomit ant pathology requiring an additional open or arthroscopic procedure w ere eliminated from this study. Every patient complained of shoulder p ain mainly with overhead activities and nine patients (64%) also descr ibed ''clicking'' with shoulder movement. All shoulders were stable to translation in all quadrants during the preoperative examination and examination under anesthesia. The functional results at 6 months' foll ow-up were 93% excellent or good. However, the results at >1 year's fo llow-up (average 2 years) were only 71% excellent or good, with a stat istically significant 50% of patients decreased in function. The best results were in the superior and anterior-inferior regions. Three pati ents with large anterior-superior lesions (60%) developed postoperativ e instability noted at >6 months postsurgery, representing a significa nt difference between groups. One of these patients was able to regain a good functional result with rotator cuff strengthening therapy. Clo se observation of patients after large anterior-superior labral tear a rthroscopic debridement is advised because they are at risk for the de layed onset of instability.